Search Oglethorpe County Genealogy

Oglethorpe County genealogy records reach back to 1793, making it one of the older counties in Georgia for family research. The Probate Court in Lexington maintains marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianship records. Oglethorpe County also has rare early birth records from 1875 to 1878, created under the short-lived 1875 Vital Records Act. These early records give researchers a head start that most Georgia counties cannot match. The Superior Court Clerk holds land deeds, divorce files, and civil case records that fill in more of the family picture.

Oglethorpe County Probate Court Records

The Oglethorpe County Probate Court is the primary source for marriage and estate records. This court has marriage licenses going back to the early 1800s. Wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories are also on file. The courthouse is in Lexington, the county seat since 1793.

Marriage records from Oglethorpe County are some of the oldest in Georgia. A marriage license from the 1800s shows the names of the couple, sometimes their ages, and often their parents. These records help confirm family links that census data alone cannot prove. Estate records fill in gaps too. When someone died, the court filed a will or appointed an administrator. These documents list heirs, property, and debts. Annual returns show what an estate was worth year by year. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses in Oglethorpe County.

Oglethorpe County is one of only eleven Georgia counties that have birth records from the 1875 Vital Records Act. The county has birth registrations from 1875 to 1878. These records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives and are a rare find for genealogy research in this part of the state.

Note: Call the courthouse before visiting to confirm hours and record availability.

Oglethorpe County Superior Court Genealogy

The Superior Court Clerk in Oglethorpe County holds land records, divorce files, and civil and criminal case records from 1793 to the present. Deed books show property transfers between family members. Divorce files often name children and give ages. Civil cases sometimes reveal disputes that identify relatives and their relationships.

Land records are especially valuable for Oglethorpe County genealogy. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, land grants were a common way for the state to distribute property. Many families in Oglethorpe County received land through the headright system or later lotteries. These records are at the courthouse and also on microfilm at the Georgia Archives. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, court records in Georgia are open to the public. You can request copies in person or by mail.

Vital Records for Oglethorpe Genealogy

Statewide vital records in Georgia began in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. Birth and death certificates from that year forward are available through the county vital records office. Before 1919, Oglethorpe County has a rare advantage. Birth records from 1875 to 1878 exist because of the 1875 Vital Records Act. Most counties did not comply with that law, but Oglethorpe did.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted to the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates are more widely available. Certified copies cost $25 for the first and $5 for each extra. For death records from 1919 to 1943, the Virtual Vault offers free online access. FamilySearch also has indexed Georgia death records at no charge.

Note: For the period between 1878 and 1919, there are almost no official vital records for Oglethorpe County. Use church records, cemetery transcriptions, and family Bibles to fill that gap.

Oglethorpe County GAGenWeb Resources

The Oglethorpe County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run genealogy resource. Researchers share cemetery transcriptions, census data, family trees, and other records here.

Volunteers post records from courthouses, libraries, and private collections. The data is free to use and can point you toward records you might not know existed. This is a good starting point before making a trip to Lexington.

Other free resources include Georgia Historic Newspapers, which has over one million pages of digitized papers with obituaries and legal notices. The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds pre-1900 Oglethorpe County records on microfilm. Free access to Ancestry.com and FamilySearch is available in their search room.

Oglethorpe County Genealogy Research Tips

Begin with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places for your Oglethorpe County family. Then work backward one generation at a time. Census records are the logical next step after gathering information from living relatives.

The federal census is available from 1800 to 1940 at the Georgia Archives. Remember that the 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 censuses for Georgia were destroyed. For those years, use Oglethorpe County tax digests to locate ancestors. The 1850 census was the first to list every household member by name. Since Oglethorpe County dates to 1793, you can find census entries for this county starting with the earliest surviving Georgia census records.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Search church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Look for the 1875-1878 birth records at the Georgia Archives
• Use tax digests when census records are unavailable
• Review estate records for family connections

Pre-1900 records are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives, 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Post-1900 records are at the courthouse in Lexington.

Fees for Oglethorpe County Records

Fees for genealogy records in Oglethorpe County vary. The Probate Court charges for searches and copies. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the Open Records Act sets copy fees at 10 cents per page for standard documents. Court records may have different costs based on local rules. Certified copies cost more than plain copies.

Birth and death certificates are $25 for the first copy. Each additional copy costs $5. Pay by money order, certified check, or cash in person. Call the courthouse at (706) 743-5270 to confirm exact fees before sending payment.

Note: Fees can change, so always confirm current costs before submitting a request.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Oglethorpe County. If your ancestors moved within this area, check neighboring county records too. Boundary changes were common in early Georgia, so an ancestor in Oglethorpe one decade might show up in a different county the next.